View photos from Nicaragua

The 2011 alternative spring break trip to Nicaragua performed service in La Danta, a indigenous agricultural community, and the capital city Managua. Located in the mountainous northern region of Nicaragua, the community of La Danta and Eckerd students participated in homestays. Service activities included constructing a rock wall for flooding protection, assisting with the creation of the community church ground floor, moving thousands of bricks for the construction of a new house, planting cashew seeds, assisting in the elementary school garden, and baking bread in a community leader's brick oven. Eckerd students had the chance to go for a hike through La Danta, learn about the history of the village, and participate in a good-bye dance party.

In Managua, the Eckerd volunteers stayed in the Quaker house hostel. The students volunteered at La Chureca, the largest open-air dump in Central America. The afternoon was spent doing arts and craft activities with the children who reside in the dump. A night discussion was held with a local sweatshop union organizer who was able to explain and answer questions about the life of a typical sweatshop worker. She also gave details on how her job sought for social change. Finally, Eckerd students participated in a historical tour of downtown Managua.

View photos from Nicaragua